Joshua Wang (AmateurGolf.com Photo)
A familiar face to AmateurGolf.com tournaments sits at the top of the leaderboard after round one of the AmatuerGolf.com Christmas Classic at Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, Calif.
Joshua Wang of Palo Alto, Calif., shot a 7-under 65 with eight birdies and just one bogey to take a three-shot lead into the second and final round of the Christmas Classic.
Wang was also in first place after the first round of the 2022 AmateurGolf.com Winter Invitational, finishing T8. He also finished in solo third place at the 2023 AmateurGolf.com Pacific Grove City and made the 2023 San Francisco City Championship quarterfinals. He finished in solo second place at Santa Clara County.
The greens were rolling fast at Del Monte, and Wang used his ball striking to minimize the challenges that were presented by the speed.
"My iron game and wedges were pretty good," Wang told AmateurGolf.com. "So I just stuck it really close, and it was a lot of tap-ins for birdies and taking advantage of the short par-5s."
Wang added, "It was definitely a good round."
The junior at Palo Alto High School plays his golf out of Baylands Golf Course in Palo Alto and started his opening round on the back nine, recording a par and a bogey to start his round, but a chip-in birdie on Hole No. 12 got him going, and he never looked back.
"I knew my wedges were on point, so if I could just get myself close to the green, I knew I could give myself some opportunities for birdies."
That is exactly what he did, recording birdies on Holes No. 15 and 17 on the back nine and five more birdies on the front nine to close in a 31.
"I enjoy coming out to Monterey," Wang said. "The courses here are really nice and fun to play."
Hartej Grewal of Pleasanton, Calif., and Matthew Lin of Orinda, Calif., both shot rounds of 4-under 68 and are three shots back of Wang and tied for second place. Grewal recorded five birdies and one bogey, and Lin recorded six birdies and two bogeys.
Reid Buzby of San Francisco, Calif., is in solo fourth place at 2-under, and Weston Payne of Berkeley, Calif., is in solo fifth place at 1-under.
In the Senior Championship Division, Terry Foreman of Brentwood, Calif., leads by one shot at 1-over. It was a roller coaster opening round for Foreman, who recorded four birdies, three bogeys, and one double bogey. This Division is up for grabs after one round, with eight golfers within five shots of Foreman.
Foreman finished in solo second place at the 2023 NCGA Senior Amateur.
Charles Richesin of Lodi, Calif., is in solo second place at 2-over, and Steve Schroeder of Monterey, Calif., Russell Humphrey of Lodi, Calif., and Chris Miller of Brentwood, Calif., are all T3 at 3-over.
Sherri Suto of San Francisco, Calif, leads the Net Division at 2-under.
ABOUT THE
AGC Christmas Classic
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The Christmas Classic was
founded by 2-time
California State Amateur Champion Casey
Boyns over 20 years ago and it always
attracts
a great field. This is our most popular event,
and year in and year out it sells out. Field
limited to 104 players; Championship, Senior,
and Net divisions.
Your entry fee includes two rounds of
golf
(cart at players expense), $4500 in
Callaway Golf certificate prizes,
$20 lunch certificate,
and a
great
weekend at one of the Monterey Peninsula's
wonderful classic courses, "Old" Del Monte.
DIVISIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP
For players aged 16 and over who have a USGA or
equivalent index of less than 5.5
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
For players age 50 and over (as of the tournament
date) with a handicap index of less than 8.0. Note:
Must be 55 and over for NCGA Senior Points.
NET
For players 16 and over with handicap between 5.5
and 18.0.
MID-AM (subdivision of Championship)
For players age
25-49. Compete alongside the younger players in the
Championship Division, (same tees, same prize
opportunities) and if there are at least six Mid-Ams,
a
separate prize and trophy will be awarded.
SUPER SENIORS (subdivision of Senior)
For players age
65+. Compete alongside the younger senior players
in
the
Senior Division, (same tees, same prize
opportunities) and if there are at least six players 65
or
over, a
separate prize and trophy will be awarded for low
super senior.
WOMEN (subdivision of Championship)
Will play in the Championship
Division but from a shorter tee; if there are at least
six women in
the field, a separate prize and trophy will be
awarded. Net players will
play in the Net Division but from a shorter tee.
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